Activated Carbon?

[thall17]

I have a 75 gallon display with a 30 gallon sump with a protein skimmer and using filter socks. Should I add activated carbon? If so how much and where to put it? I do have the mesh bags for it....add it to the filter sock, main compartment with the skimmer or the compartment with the return pump...

 

[Rocks reef]

Adding the carbon can help with water clarity by removing DOC. It can also aid if your corals are having chemical warfare.
I would place it in a mesh bag in a high flow area.

 

[Mr. Mojo Rising]

I put mine in the sump near the drain pipe.

 

[56longroof]

I run mine in a reactor in the sump. But its not online all the time. When I notice the water has a yellow tint during a water change I start it up. Run for a couple weeks then take it out. Which is convenient because it plugs up with bacteria around that time from carbon dosing.

 

[ga2040]

Activated carbon is not needed unless you need to remove some medication or something. It has some connection to hole in the head disease , just to be aware.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

I recommend a high quality GAC for nearly all reef tanks. It reduces organics that cause yellowing of the water, and removes many natural and man made toxins.

I recommend ROX 0.8, and don’t think it has much in the way of a downside to use.

 

[56longroof]

Activated carbon is not needed unless you need to remove some medication or something. It has some connection to hole in the head disease , just to be aware.

Alot of people use it to remove dissolved organics that can cause a yellow tint to the water. There is strong evidence of the fines from carbon dust linked to HLLE. But using something like Rox carbon seems to have no issues. In fact I ran Rox with a purple tang that had HLLE when I bought it. It completely healed with no scarring or return of symptoms. A blanket statement that carbon causes it is just spreading misinformation.

 

[TX_REEF]

I agree with above, I use rox 0.8 carbon at all times and have noticed no downsides: https://amzn.to/4mzaJ1z

 

[UMALUM]

I second the mesh bag in the drain. Seems to lightly tumble there. I've never run a mixed without it.

 

[painter1982]

I recommend a high quality GAC for nearly all reef tanks. It reduces organics that cause yellowing of the water, and removes many natural and man made toxins.

I recommend ROX 0.8, and don’t think it has much in the way of a downside to use.

Are there any concerns with HLLE using this carbon?

 

[N11morales]

I recommend a high quality GAC for nearly all reef tanks. It reduces organics that cause yellowing of the water, and removes many natural and man made toxins.

I recommend ROX 0.8, and don’t think it has much in the way of a downside to use.

how often do u change out ur rox .8? I have a media reactor. I havent started usin carbon yet. I just got my rox.8 in. I plan to start after my vacation this weekend. Should it be changed out monthly?

 

[exnisstech]

Activated carbon is not needed unless you need to remove some medication or something. It has some connection to hole in the head disease , just to be aware.

This is pretty much the camp I'm in. Nothing wrong with running it and I'm sure there are benefits but i don't bother. Sure my water has a yellow tint in a white bucket but it doesn't look yellow in the tank so I don't fret it.

EDIT: what kind of reactors are you folks using for rox? I tried it in the past in 2 different reactors and it just plugged in both. I run pelletized carbon when needed but with the reports of the bad carbon from PetSmart I'm hesitant.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Are there any concerns with HLLE using this carbon?

No. :)

I use it without issues and I have never seen a case of HLLE that can be attributed to ROX 0.8.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

This is pretty much the camp I'm in. Nothing wrong with running it and I'm sure there are benefits but i don't bother. Sure my water has a yellow tint in a white bucket but it doesn't look yellow in the tank so I don't fret it.

EDIT: what kind of reactors are you folks using for rox? I tried it in the past in 2 different reactors and it just plugged in both. I run pelletized carbon when needed but with the reports of the bad carbon from PetSmart I'm hesitant.

I currently use it in a magnum inside a diy mesh bag. I also use it in a Tunze mesh bag passively with my Tunze skimmer.

 

[56longroof]

This is pretty much the camp I'm in. Nothing wrong with running it and I'm sure there are benefits but i don't bother. Sure my water has a yellow tint in a white bucket but it doesn't look yellow in the tank so I don't fret it.

EDIT: what kind of reactors are you folks using for rox? I tried it in the past in 2 different reactors and it just plugged in both. I run pelletized carbon when needed but with the reports of the bad carbon from PetSmart I'm hesitant.

Im using a AquaMax reactor. Filled as full as possible so the spongeges and "retainers" hold it snug so it can't tumble. The downside is since Im dosing vinegar the bacteria colonize it so much in 2 weeks the flow is greatly diminished. Plugs up my GFO reactor too. Not a huge deal but I used to change out once a month.